Best Solar Chargers

The best portable power for your cell phone, MP3 player, and more. Read how the Good Housekeeping Research Institute tested and evaluated the products. See all of the GHRI-tested products you'll need for your summer vacation.

Best of the Test: FatCat Solstice 2.5 ($100)

The FatCat Solstice 2.5 was the overall winner in our evaluations. The unit unfolds to reveal two solar panels and packs the largest-capacity battery, which is two to three times the size of that of an average cell phone. The solar charger gave our Zune a playing time of 100 minutes, the second-longest playing time of the products tested. The trade-off to having a large battery: The FatCat is a bit heavier than the other devices tested, weighing about half a pound.

Specifications: Includes 11 connector tips and a USB charging cable (for USB chargers), and the choice of 4.5, 5, 6.3, and 9V outputs. The included tips work with iPods, MP3s, BlackBerrys, and Nokia, LG, mini Nokia, PDA, PSP, GPS, Sony Ericsson, Samsung, and Motorola products; additional tips can be purchased for $6.95 plus $1.50 postage by calling 1-877-886-2646. The unit can be charged by the sun, USB, and AC adapter. Battery capacity is 2,500 milliamp hours.
(stuffjunction.com)

Powertraveler powermonkey-eXplorer ($130)

The powermonkey-eXplorer's slim bifold solar panel connects to a separate compact battery pack. This separate battery pack (the second largest of the test) can then be used to charge your playthings. The battery offered 65 minutes of video playing time in our tests and sports a screen that tells you when the battery is getting low. Although the unit appears durable, the battery pack spilt apart in the drop test (but was reconnected with a small amount of glue).

Solio Classic ($100)

In our tests, the Solio Classic provided the longest playing time, 160 minutes. Its battery is a bit smaller than our two test leaders, which put it in third place on our test. We really liked the clever fan design that allows the unit to be propped up with a twig or pencil so it can be aligned to the perfect angle to collect the sun's power. When not in use, the fan folds up for travel.

Specifications: Includes six connector tips plus a USB port for use with USB chargers. The included tips work with Mini-USB, Nokia, Sony Ericsson, Samsung, and LG devices. Additional tips can be purchased online for $10 each. The unit can be charged by the sun and USB. Battery capacity is 1,650 milliamp hours.
(solio.com)

Solio Magnesium ($170)

Solio's Magnesium charger has a similar fan design to the Solio Classic, allowing you to angle the solar panels for the best charging capability and to fold them closed for storage. However, in our tests, it did not play the Zune as long as the Classic (65 minutes versus 160). For the higher price, it does offer a battery with a little more storage (meaning once fully stocked, its power should last longer after the sun sets), as well as a few more adapter tips, and a wall plug.

Specifications: Includes five connector tips, a female USB cable (for use with USB chargers), and travel adapters for use internationally. Included tips work with Motorola Razor, LG Chocolate, Nokia, Samsung, and BlackBerry. Additional tips can be purchased online for $10. The unit can be charged by sun and AC adapter. Battery capacity is 1,800 milliamp hours.
(solio.com)

Solio H1000 ($80)

Another entry from Solio, the H1000 has a compact, travel-friendly design, with a carabineer attached for clipping to a belt or bag. We were able to get 40 minutes of playing time from 3 hours, 45 minutes in the sun. Compared to the other three Solios, it has the smallest internal battery and offers only a few tips included for use with a limited number of devices.

Specifications: Includes three connector tips and a USB port for use with USB chargers. The included tips work with Mini-USB (powers Motorola, BlackBerry, Garmin, iRiver) and Nokia devices. Additional tips can be purchased online for $10. The unit can be charged by the sun or USB. Battery capacity is 1,000 milliamp hours.
(solio.com)

PowerFilm USB + AA Solar Charger ($99)

The several solar panels integrated into the fabric of the PowerFilm USB + Solar Charger allow it to be tightly folded for storage, and then rolled out to charge. Its included battery pack is comprised of two rechargeable AA batteries. Once charged, the entire unit can be connected to your electronics, or the batteries can be removed and used as regular AAs. Unfortunately, the device lacks additional connectors, so you need to have the USB cable for any electronic that doesn't run on AA batteries. The charging panel also has six grommets built in to allow for secure fastening to a backpack or the ground. In our tests we got 60 minutes of playing time.

Specifications: Includes a USB port (into which USB chargers can be connected) and two rechargeable AA batteries. The unit can be charged by the sun, as well as by indoor lighting.
(powerfilmsolar.com )

MiniWiz HYmini ($75)

HYmini's internal battery can be charged by the sun and with a plug like the other units, but also can be charged by wind power. The main unit contains a little turbine, which can be used as a supplemental energy source. However, the wind power, in many cases, is not powerful enough to be used alone to charge a dead phone. The solar panel itself is separate from the base, and some consumers thought would be a pain to carry around both pieces. In our test, we got 75 minutes of playing time.

Specifications: Includes five connector tips and a USB port and plug for use with USB chargers. The included tips work with Apple, Nokia, BlackBerry, Mini-USB, Sony Ericsson, Samsung, and LG devices. Additional tips can be purchased online for $5 apiece. The unit can be charged by sun, wind, USB, and AC adapter. Battery capacity is 1,200 milliamp hours.
(hymini.com)

Green Goods Multi Device Charger ($50)

The Multi Device Charger is our choice for ultra-portability. At just over a tenth of a pound, this was easily the smallest unit tested  really no bigger than the cell phone it could be charging. Because of its smaller size, the unit only produced a playing time of 26 minutes, but its smaller size also meant it could be easily slipped into a pocket.

Specifications: Includes 11 connector tips plus a USB port. The included tips work with iPod, GPS, PMP, PSP, Bluetooth headsets, and a wide variety of cell phones. Additional tips are not available for purchase. The unit can be charged by the sun, USB, and AC adapter. Battery capacity is 1,200 milliamp hours.
(greengoodstechnology.com )

Portable Solar Power SL-1100 ($50)

The SL-1100 had a unique sleek design and charges two AAA rechargeable batteries, which provide the battery pack for using the charger to power up your devices  or can be removed and used for equipment that runs off AAAs. It offers only a USB port, meaning you'll need to have the USB charger for the device you want to power up. Its weak performance in our charging test  only 25 minutes of playing time  and no included connectors knocked its score way down.

Specifications: Includes the USB port only, for use with USB chargers. A connector cord and tips are available online for an additional $8 each. The unit can be charged by the sun and by USB.
(solarlighttechnologies.com)

Global Solar Sunlinq 6.5 Watt ($82)

With no internal battery, the Global Solar Sunlinq 6.5 Watt is simply a folding solar panel. When laid out, the four solar segments send juice straight to your electronic device. Unlike any other device tested, the main output connection is like a car power outlet, so to juice up your cell phone or other item, you also need the same charger you would use if you were to charge it in your car. Another included adapter is for connecting to and powering up a dead car/RV/marine battery. In our test, we got 40 minutes of playing time. The unit was a little on the large side, so do not expect to slip it in your pocket.

Specifications: Includes the vehicle power plug, vehicle power outlet, battery clamps, and an 8-foot extension cable (to connect to a vehicle's battery). Additional adapters and charge controllers are available online for $10 to $40.
(affordable-solar.com )

Brunton Solaris USB ($115)

Similar to the Solar Port 4.4 but with fewer panels, this unit simply offers a USB port. With no internal battery, it needs to be hooked up to your electronic device while it's in the sun to transfer the charge. In our tests, we got 55 minutes of playing time from 3 hours, 45 minutes in the sun. Because it works only via USB port, you'll have to have a USB charger in order to juice up your device of choice.

Specifications: Includes USB port only for use with USB chargers.
(rei.com)

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